Hampton artists John Fanning and John Winters received a publicity boost for their art exhibit at the Alexander Lake Design Gallery, thanks to some “Friends.”

Matthew Perry, who starred in the long-running television show “Friends” as Chandler and is now starring in “Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip” on NBC, purchased John Fanning’s work titled “Sphere of Humiliation” from the gallery last week.

“I was really quite floored. It was one of those great things that you could never predict would really ever happen,” said Fanning on Tuesday.

Sphere of Humiliation

Click the picture to enlarge.

Also visit John Fanning’s AKA Massaccesi site for more fabric/animal artwork.

The work will remain on display at the gallery until the exhibit ends on Feb. 28. The selling price was not disclosed.

The exhibit has 20-25 pieces. Both artists contributed individual work to the exhibit and collaborated on several pieces.

The transaction came about became Fanning’s father, Don Fanning, is friends with Matthew Perry’s father, John Perry. The two met while attending college at St. Lawrence University in New York and have stayed in touch.

Don Fanning sent photographs of the collection to John Perry, who informed him that Matthew was interested in buying one of the pieces.

The work Matthew purchased consists of a stuffed animal that is hanging by threads from another cloth image of a horse that has cow udders. John Fanning said he has been trying to do more fabric pieces integrating animals.

Fanning said he and Winters like to integrate different materials and cast-off items in their work.